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[av_heading heading=’SC decision on martial law ‘rule of law at work,’ Win says; Bam differs’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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February 8, 2018
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MANILA – Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Paolo Benigno Aquino IV have differing opinions on the Supreme Court’s affirmation of the yearlong extension of the martial law in Mindanao.
Voting 10-5 on Tuesday, the high court upheld the constitutionality of the declaration.
Gatchalian described the Supreme Court decision as “precisely the rule of law at work.” He believed that “strict constitutional checks and balances” have been observed.
“The recommendation of the President to extend martial law, the approval of the extension during a joint session of Congress, and the Supreme Court’s review of the extension were all conducted exactly as required by the Constitution,” he said.
“At the end of this long deliberative process, the three great branches of government have come to the same conclusion – that the extension of martial law is a just and necessary medicine to cure Mindanao of the violent extremism that has afflicted the island for so long,” he added.
In December 2016 Duterte asked Congress to extend the martial law up to another year, citing the continued threat from Islamic State terrorists and allied local extremist groups.
The Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have recommended that the military rule in the southern island be sustained.
Aquino, on the other hand, stressed that the martial law “contradicted the true spirit” of EDSA People Power I.
“Sa desisyong suportahan ang mahabaang martial law, nabuksan ang pagdeklara ng martial law sa buong kapuluan na walang klarong basehan ng hangganan,” he said.
The Supreme Court dismissed all four petitions against the martial law that asserted there was no basis for the declaration in the absence of an actual rebellion.
“Kailangang itigil ang tuluy-tuloy na pagbakbak sa demokrasya ng Pilipinas,” said Aquino.
Malacañang lauded the Supreme Court decision.
It “underscores the unity of the whole government in its bid to defeat terrorism and prevent the spread in other parts of the country of Daesh-inspired DIWW and other like-minded local and foreign terrorist groups,” said Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque./PN
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